AIB Cup: First Round Previews

Saturday sees the 2007/08 AIB Cup competition get underway in earnest with fourteen matches down for decision in all four provinces - the re-fixed game between Dublin University and Sunday's Well will now take place on Monday night. See below for previews of some of the matches.

AIB League History: First competed in the 1996/97 season. They have had three seasons in Division Four, seven seasons in Division Three and one season in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 43rd.

2006/07 Finish: They were 13th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Lost in the first round - 50-12 away to Belfast Harlequins; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Suttonians finished top of Pool Four in the Leinster Senior League Cup after they collected two bonus points for the 16 tries they scored in beating Dublin University 34-17 at home, Terenure College 30-26 away and Naas 53-21 in County Kildare. They were drawn at home in the quarter-finals where they succumbed 27-17 to De La Salle Palmerston.

Comment: Once more, they are under the guidance of Robert Forbes and with nine former Clontarf players in their ranks, the Dublin northsiders have started the season with a bang and will be favourites on Saturday to record a hat-trick of wins over the visiting students.

Queen's University:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1999/00 season. They have spent one season in Division Four, one season in Division Three and six seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 30th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 7th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Barnhall have endured, by their own high standards, a pretty poor Leinster Senior League Cup Pool Four campaign - losing 11-0 away to Wanderers and 53-0 away to Clontarf before drawing 9-9 at home to junior club Seapoint. They have failed to score a try over the three games and finished 17 of the 20 clubs in the competition.

Comment: Former Ireland International number eight Brian Robinson brings his coaching experience to the Dub this season and with the valued assistance of the evergreen Robbie Moore, he will make sure there is another good season in south Belfast this season.

This season Queen's have had to replace seven players in their pack and four in their back-line and will be helped this weekend by the availability of their five Ulster Under-20 squad members.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Suttonians to win.

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MATCH J - DUBLIN UNIVERSITY v SUNDAY'S WELL, Musgrave Park, 7pm (Monday, October 8) (Match originally down for College Park, Saturday, October 6 (2.30pm) but has been re-fixed for Monday night)Referee: Allen McDowell (Ulster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Leinster v Munster) - an AIB League Division Two team at home to Division Three opposition.Previous AIB League Fixtures: 2002/03: Division Two: Sunday's Well 14 Dublin University 9; 2003/04: Division Two: Dublin University 32 Sunday's Well 3.

Dublin University:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1993/94 season. They have had four seasons in Division Four, five seasons in Division Three, two seasons in Division Two and three season in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 34th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 6th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Dublin University finished second in Pool One of the Leinster Senior League Cup - they lost 34-17 away to Suttonians, won 22-15 at home to Naas and won 23-16 away to Terenure College. At the end of the pool phase, they were graded tenth of the 20 competing clubs.

Comment: No short training trip to the USA this September. Tony Smeeth, director of the DUFC Academy, is participating in his tenth AIB League season coaching the Trinity side. There are a lot of new faces at College Park this autumn but that is par for the course these days in student clubs.

Sunday's Well:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have spent twelve seasons in Division Two, one season in Division One, one season in the junior ranks and three seasons in Division Three. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 27th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 14th in AIB League Division Three last season, just avoiding a relegation play-off.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Sunday's Well lost 21-13 away to Dolphin in the first round of the Cork Charity Cup. They won 10-6 away to Thomond in the first round of the Munster Senior Cup and won 32-18 at home to Waterpark in the second round - they will meet Old Crescent in the quarter-finals.

Comment: After a sequence of nine games without a win in last seasonâ00s AIB League Division Three, new president Billy Keating has injected a new spirit this season. Back rower Declan Coppinger has returned from Clonakilty as a player only. Coppinger has scored more tries (41) than any other forward in the history of the AIB League.

Status: Interprovinicial game (Munster v Ulster) - an AIB League Division Two team at home to Division Two opposition.Previous AIB League Fixtures: 2001/02: Division Two: Belfast Harlequins 36 Thomond 18.

Thomond:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1999/00 season. They have had one season in Division Four, one season in Division Three and six seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 33rd.

2006/07 Finish: They were 12th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Thomond lost 26-6 away to Shannon in the Limerick Charity Cup first round and followed this with a 10-6 home loss to Sunday's Well in the first round of the Munster Senior Cup.

Comment: Have lost a few players this season and it appears that those remaining have not clicked yet. A win on Saturday against Belfast's finest would ensure a choice home fixture against Shannon in the second round.

Belfast Harlequins:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1999/00 season. They have spent two seasons in Division Two and six seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 9th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 15th in AIB League Division One last season and were relegated.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Won in the first round - 50-12 at home to Suttonians; Lost in the quarter-finals - 41-13 away to Cork Constitution; 2006/07: Won in the first round - 21-0 at home to Nenagh Ormond; Won in the quarter-finals - 22-19 at home to Galwegians; Won in the semi-finals - 32-28 at home to Shannon; Lost the final - 20-7 to Garryowen at Dubarry Park.

Current Season: Belfast Harlequins currently lie in second place in the Ulster Senior League - they have played five games and won all five with a recent big win over Rainey Old Boys (60-13). They have collected four bonus points for tries scored.

Comment: Former Irish internationals Andy Ward and Maurice Field are in place again this season. They beat Thomond the only previous time the two clubs met but that game was up in Belfast. They have an impressive recent record in the Treaty city though.

Status: Interprovinicial game (Ulster v Munster) - an AIB League Division Two team at home to Division Three opposition.Previous AIB League Fixtures: 2006/07: Division Three: Ballynahinch 8 Nenagh Ormond 6.

Ballynahinch:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1996/97 season. They have had one season in Division Four, three seasons in Division Three and seven seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 31st.

2006/07 Finish: They were 2nd in AIB League Division Three last season but lost the play-off semi-final 29-3 at home to Bruff.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Ballynahinch currently lie in third place in the Ulster Senior League, having played seven matches, won five and lost two. They have remained unbeaten at home with notable victories over Ards (22-0), Rainey OB (31-10) and Banbridge (40-22) but have lost two of their three games on the road. They went to Stevenson Park last Saturday and beat Dungannon 20-5.

Comment: The club supplies the Ulster Branch of the IRFU with a President and a Honorary Treasurer this season. The 'country boys' have the best AIB League record of an Ulster club against Munster opposition.

Nenagh Ormond:

AIB League History: First competed in the 2005/06 season. They have spent two seasons in Division Three. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 41st.

2006/07 Finish: They were 5th in AIB League Division Three last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Lost in the first round - 21-0 away to Belfast Harlequins.

Current Season: Ballynahinch lost 41-19 away to UL Bohemians in the first round of the Limerick Charity Cup. They lost 32-20 away to Old Crescent in the Munster Senior Cup's second round.

Comment: They lost by only two points on their only previous visit to Ballymacarn Park. They have an excellent record away in Ulster where they have played eight games and won six of them.

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have had five seasons in Division One, three seasons in Division Two and nine seasons in Division Three. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 28th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 4th in AIB League Division Two last season but lost the play-off semi-final 47-29 away to Wanderers.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Instonians currently lie in tenth place in the Ulster Senior League, having played six games, won two and lost four. Regarding clubs that â00Instâ00 will face this season in AIB League Division Three, they have beaten Ards (39-28) but lost to Rainey 32-24 and Queen's 27-21 during their Ulster campaign so far.

Comment: They lost their last two home games against Young Munster but these games took place more than ten years ago in AIB League Division One at Shane Park.

Young Munster:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have spent eleven seasons in Division One and six seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 11th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 4th in AIB League Division Two last season but lost the play-off semi-final 23-21 away to Old Belvedere.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: In the Limerick Charity Cup, Young Munster won 12-9 away to Old Crescent in the first round but lost 27-18 at home to Bruff in the semi-finals. They lost 20-19 in controversial circumstances away to Dolphin in the Munster Senior Cup's second round last weekend.

Comment: They have won their last three fixtures with Instonians - both of these clubs have, at some stage, done time in Division One. Instonians are approaching their eighth consecutive season in Division Three, while Young Munster are preparing for their sixth consecutive season in Division Two.

Status: Non-interprovinicial game (Munster v Munster) - an AIB League Division Three team at home to Division Two opposition.Previous AIB League Fixtures: The two clubs have never met in the AIB League.

Bruff:

AIB League History: First competed in the 2004/05 season. They have had three seasons in Division Three. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 42nd.

2006/07 Finish: They were 3rd in AIB League Division Three last season and beat Wanderers 18-12 in the play-off final at Templeville Road.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Bruff received a bye in the first round of the Limerick Charity Cup. Away to Young Munster, they won 27-18 in the semi-finals and beat UL Bohemians 16-15 in the final at Dooradoyle to collect their first trophy this season. They met Bohs again last weekend in the Munster Senior Cup's second round, but this time lost 24-12.

Comment: Last season's Division Three champions are one of the most up-and-coming senior clubs in the country and are presently odds-on to be promoted at the end of the season. They have not played Saturdayâ00s opponents since they entered senior ranks three seasons back.

Highfield:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1993/94 season. They have spent one season in Division Four, eight seasons in Division Three, one season in the junior ranks and four seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 36th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 5th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: At home to Waterpark, Highfield won 52-7 in the first round of the Cork Charity Cup, they beat Midleton 23-10 at home in the semi-finals but lost the final 14-12 to Cork Constitution at Musgrave Park. They played away to UCC in the second round of the Munster Senior Cup, won 27-6 and will now face Dolphin at Woodleigh Park in the quarter-finals.

Comment: Highfield boys are big in the rugby administration world these days. Following Ralph Murphyâ00s year as President of the Munster Branch of the IRFU last season, Der Healy has been installed as the 2007/08 President of the IRFU. Geoff Moylan moves in as head coach, he comes to Bishopstown from Shannon via Buccaneers. They have recruited a few quality players during the off-season.

Status: Interprovinicial game (Munster v Leinster) - an AIB League Division Two team at home to Division Three opposition.Previous AIB League Fixtures: The two clubs have never met in the AIB League.

Old Crescent:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1992/93 season. They have had three seasons in Division One and twelve seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 15th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 8th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: In the first round of the Limerick Charity Cup, Old Crescent were beaten 12-9 at home to Young Munster. They won 32-20 at home to Nenagh Ormond in the Munster Senior Cup's second round and face and away trip to Sunday's Well in the quarter-finals.

Comment: Old Crescent are 60-years-old this season and are the only established Munster club that have never won the Munster Senior Cup. Former Wales centre Mark Ring continues as their head coach. Ring, as a matter of interest, played in the 1987 and 1991 World Cups and he scored the first try that Ireland ever conceded in a World Cup.

Naas:

AIB League History: First competed in the 2000/01 season. They have spent one season in Division Four, two seasons in the junior ranks and four seasons in Division Three. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 45th.

2006/07 Finish: They won the junior clubs' Round Robin series and were promoted to the AIB League.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Naas finished third in Pool One of the Leinster Senior League Cup - they won 19-17 at home to Terenure College, lost 22-15 away to Dublin University and lost 53-21 at home to Suttonians. They were placed 14th of the 20 clubs at the end of the league series, ahead of Terenure, Wanderers, Barnhall, Old Wesley and County Carlow.

Comment: Naas arrive back in the AIB League after an absence of three seasons. Number eight Andy Melville is the player coach - he has scored 35 tries in the AIB League but none of them yet for Naas. They are the only Leinster AIB League club yet to record a victory in Limerick.

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have had two seasons in Division One, ten seasons in Division Two and five seasons in Division Three. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 26th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 1st in AIB League Division Three last season but lost the play-off final 18-12 to Bruff at Templeville Road.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: They finished third in Pool Four of the Leinster Senior League Cup. At home, they won 11-0 against Barnhall but lost both away games - 50-19 at Clontarf and 20-3 at junior club Seapoint..

Comment: They arrive back in AIB League Division Two after five long seasons in the third division, and are this weekend seeking a hat-trick of home wins over Connemara.

Connemara:

AIB League History: First competed in the 2001/02 season. They have spent six seasons in Division Three. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 45th.

2006/07 Finish: They finished 13th in AIB League Division Three last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Connemara lost all three games in the Connacht Senior League - they were beaten 25-10 at home to Corinthians, beaten 36-3 at home to Galwegians and also lost 33-3 away to Buccaneers. They were unable to field a team in their Connacht Senior Cup semi-final at home to Galwegians on September 22 and conceded the game.

Comment: Club Gaelic football has been taking precedence in the Clifden area at the moment. The Connemara players are focusing on the first AIB League Division Three fixture away to Sunday's Well on the weekend of the very popular Cork Jazz Festival. Connemara RFC ran a hugely successful fundraiser in the Shelbourne Hotel Dublin a few months back - will the squad be lodging there this weekend?

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